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Chua sentenced to life:

From: The Times Union

Chua found guilty of murder, sentenced to life in prison

St. Marys doctor was also convicted in 7 of the 16 drug charges he faced

By Gordon Jackson, The Times-Union

BRUNSWICK - After nearly 11 hours of deliberations, a five-woman, seven-man jury found physician Noel Chua guilty Saturday of felony murder and of seven charges of violating Georgia's Controlled Substance Act.

Immediately after the verdict, Chua was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Amanda Williams. He was also sentenced to five years in prison on the drug charges.
Before the clerk of court read the verdict, Williams told people in the audience she would allow no outbursts or they would be arrested. After the verdict was read, Williams asked each juror answered individually if his or her verdict was freely and voluntarily given. Each juror answered yes.
Chua sat erect and displayed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were read, but supporters of the doctor slumped as they heard them.
District Attorney Stephen Kelley asked Williams to hold Chua in Glynn County because the convicted murderer had been given preferential treatment at the Camden County jail, where he had been seen walking outside unsupervised before his trial.
The St. Marys doctor was arrested in September 2006, more than eight months after the drug overdose death of Jamie Carter III, his patient and housemate, on Dec. 15, 2005.
Chua was charged with 16 violations of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and one felony murder charge.
The indictment listed 10 narcotics prescribed by Chua to Carter over a three-month period before his death.
Investigators arriving at the home testified they found numerous medications in Carter's room. An autopsy showed Carter died of multi-drug intoxication.
During the five days of testimony, jurors listened to conflicting accounts by witnesses called by the defense and prosecution.
Medical experts testifying for the prosecution said medical records indicate Chua prescribed narcotic pain killers such as morphine, oxycodone and methadone to Carter for no apparent medical reason. Some drugs were prescribed to Carter without a medical examination, they testified.
Other testimony for the prosecution included a witness who told jurors he had sex with Chua when he was 15 years old. Another witness told jurors Chua prescribed narcotic pain killers to him even though medical records showed he had a drug addiction problem.
During closing arguments, District Attorney Stephen Kelley compared Chua to a drug dealer and said the doctor ignored information in medical records from other physicians indicating Carter may have had a drug problem.
Kelley also told jurors Chua should have recognized signs Carter was heavily intoxicated on narcotic drugs when he saw the victim hours before his overdose death.
Medical experts testifying for the defense argued Chua was simply trying every option possible to treat Carter for pain from chronic headaches.
Chua followed acceptable medical practices when he prescribed different pain medications to treat Carter, defense attorney Donald Samuel told jurors during his closing arguments.
The evidence produced by the prosecution, Samuel said, showed no intent by Chua to harm Carter. The doctor was exploring every treatment option possible, Samuel said, and was not aware that Carter was not following directions when he took a combination of pain medications that led to his death.
gordon.jackson@jacksonville.com,
(912) 729-3672